Asia Pacific|Chinese Rappers Take Aim at American Antimissile System in South Korea

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Chinese Rappers Take Aim at American Antimissile System in South Korea

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The group CD Rev in Chengdu, China, last year. It has produced music videos about the American-made antimissile system in South Korea, China’s claims in the contested South China Sea and Mao’s legacy.CreditCreditGilles Sabrié for The New York Times

HONG KONG — First, China’s consumers started boycotting South Korean cosmetics and other products. Then the Chinese government began blocking videos of K-pop bands. Now comes the latest weapon in Beijing’s battle against Seoul’s deployment of an American-made antimissile system: the anti-Thaad rap video.

The antimissile system, known by a cumbersome name, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, is the target of a rap that warns South Korea: “How many times do I hadda warn you, my lovely little neighbor boy?”

The video’s release comes amid something of a thaw in relations between Beijing and Seoul after the election on Tuesday of Moon Jae-in as South Korea’s president. Mr. Moon has spoken out against Thaad and had a warm conversation with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, on Thursday. Thaad is designed to protect South Korea from a North Korean missile attack, but China fears that it will undermine its own security.

In the video, the group also takes aim at the United States’ alliance with South Korea and the rise in tensions. President Trump recently warned of the possibility of a “major, major conflict” with North Korea.

“Why not choose us rather than Uncle Sam?” the rappers ask of South Korea. “The situation seems to be out of control.”

The video is bookended by clips of news accounts about the deployment of Thaad by the United States military.

“Now I’m telling everybody all over the globe about Thaad,” the song ends. “We say no, no, no!’’